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Kathleen Longshore

Dr. Kathy Longshore is a Scientist Emeritus with the Western Ecological Research Center.

Her research interests are in animal ecology with emphasis in the application of behavioral ecology to wildlife management and conservation in arid ecosystems. Behavioral indicators can provide an early warning to population declines or habitat degradation before numerical or ecosystem-level responses are evident. As such, they can be used to monitor the effectiveness of management programs. Dr. Longshore's work encompasses both basic and applied aspects of animal behavior with a specific focus on direct and indirect anthropogenic impacts on animal behavior that may in turn, may impact biodiversity.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Habitat Modeling
  • Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance
  • Telemetry (radio and/or satellite)
  • Wildlife Biology
  • Conservation Biology

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Biology. 2004

  • M.S. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Biology. 1982

  • B.S. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Zoology. 1978

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 28

Linking behavioral states to landscape features for improved conservation management

A central theme for conservation is understanding how animals differentially use, and are affected by change in, the landscapes they inhabit. However, it has been challenging to develop conservation schemes for habitat-specific behaviors.Here we use behavioral change point analysis to identify behavioral states of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of the southwest
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Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Artificial nightlight alters the predator-prey dynamics of an apex carnivore

Artificial nightlight is increasingly recognized as an important environmental disturbance that influences the habitats and fitness of numerous species. However, its effects on wide‐ranging vertebrates and their interactions remain unclear. Light pollution has the potential to amplify land‐use change, and as such, answering the question of how this sensory stimulant affects behavior and habitat us
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Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Gene transcript profiling in desert bighorn sheep

Respiratory disease is a key factor affecting the conservation and recovery of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis ) populations. Innovative, minimally invasive tools such as gene transcription–based diagnostics have the potential to improve our understanding of the broad range of factors that can affect the health of wild sheep. Evaluation of transcript levels for genes representative of multiple inte
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Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Ecological effects of fear: How spatiotemporal heterogeneity in predation risk influences mule deer access to forage in a sky‐island system

Forage availability and predation risk interact to affect habitat use of ungulates across many biomes. Within sky‐island habitats of the Mojave Desert, increased availability of diverse forage and cover may provide ungulates with unique opportunities to extend nutrient uptake and/or to mitigate predation risk. We addressed whether habitat use and foraging patterns of female mule deer (Odocoileus h
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Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Climatically driven changes in primary production propagate through trophic levels

Climate and land‐use change are the major drivers of global biodiversity loss. Their effects are particularly acute for wide‐ranging consumers, but little is known about how these factors interact to affect the abundance of large carnivores and their herbivore prey. We analyzed population densities of a primary and secondary consumer (mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, and mountain lion, Puma concolo
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Cooperative Research Units

Cougar dispersal and natal homing in a desert environment

We present a review of cougar dispersal literature and the first evidence of natural (i.e., unmanipulated) homing behavior by a dispersing male cougar (Puma concolor) that sustained severe injuries crossing the northern Mojave Desert. Based on Global Positioning System and ground tracking data, the male traveled a total distance of 981.1 km at 5.03 km/d, including 170.31 km from the Desert Nationa
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Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Wildlife on the Nevada National Security Site

Mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, and a variety of other wildlife live on and pass through the Nevada National Security Site each day. It is a highly restricted area that is free of hunting and has surprisingly pristine areas. This 22-minute program highlights an extraordinary study on how mountain lions interact with their prey. It shows how the scientists use helicopters and class
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Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

An assessment of food habits, prey availability, and nesting success of golden eagles within the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Area

Within the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan area, which encompasses California’s Mojave Desert, development and operation of renewable energy facilities has the potential to impact golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) populations through loss of habitat and prey base. Developing an effective conservation strategy that aims to mitigate for such operations is necessary to lessen these impacts;
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Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Tolerance to disturbance regulated by attractiveness of resources: A case study of desert bighorn sheep within the River Mountains, Nevada

Human activity may mimic predation risks for wildlife by causing abandonment of foraging sites and increasing expenditure of energy. Animals that can tolerate nonlethal disturbance may minimize these fitness costs. We examine this aspect of the risk—disturbance hypothesis by first analyzing recent habitat use of desert bighorn sheep relative to areas of attraction and disturbance. We then compare
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Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Variable terrestrial GPS telemetry detection rates: Addressing the probability of successful acquisitions

Studies using global positioning system (GPS) telemetry rarely result in 100% fix success rates (FSR), which may bias datasets because data loss is systematic rather than a random process. Previous spatially explicit models developed to correct for sampling bias have been limited to small study areas, a small range of data loss, or were study-area specific. We modeled environmental effects on FSR
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Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Common Raven (Corvus corax) kleptoparasitism at a Golden Eagle (Aquila chyrsaetos) nest in southern Nevada

The Common Raven (Corvus corax) is a ubiquitous species in the Mojave Desert of southern Nevada and California. From 5 to 24 May 2014, using remote trail cameras, we observed ravens repeatedly kleptoparasitizing food resources from the nest of a pair of Golden Eagles (Aquila chyrsaetos) in the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada. The ravens fed on nine (30%) of the 30 prey items delivered to the n
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Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Spatial demographic models to inform conservation planning of golden eagles in renewable energy landscapes

Spatial demographic models can help guide monitoring and management activities targeting at-risk species, even in cases where baseline data are lacking. Here, we provide an example of how site-specific changes in land use and anthropogenic stressors can be incorporated into a spatial demographic model to investigate effects on population dynamics of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Our study foc
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Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
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Desert bighorn sheep ram on a large rock along the banks of the Colorado River

Ecology and Conservation of Desert Bighorn Sheep

Dr. Kathleen Longshore’s goal is to understand how predator/prey relationships, disease and human-caused disturbance work separately and synergistically to impact bighorn sheep populations under variable ecological stress. Information from this project will provide managers with an understanding of specific and regional impacting factors that contribute to impact variation in population trends.
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Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Ecology and Conservation of Desert Bighorn Sheep

Dr. Kathleen Longshore’s goal is to understand how predator/prey relationships, disease and human-caused disturbance work separately and synergistically to impact bighorn sheep populations under variable ecological stress. Information from this project will provide managers with an understanding of specific and regional impacting factors that contribute to impact variation in population trends.
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Golden Eagle on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

Ecology and Conservation of Golden Eagles in the Mojave Desert

Dr. Kathleen Longshore, in collaboration with Dr. Todd Esque, provides information to project the possible conflict between losses of habitat for foraging involved in the proposed development of alternative energy installations in the Mojave Desert and help develop advanced conservation efforts for the golden eagle. Information from this project will also inform California’s Desert Renewable...
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Energy & Wildlife, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Ecology and Conservation of Golden Eagles in the Mojave Desert

Dr. Kathleen Longshore, in collaboration with Dr. Todd Esque, provides information to project the possible conflict between losses of habitat for foraging involved in the proposed development of alternative energy installations in the Mojave Desert and help develop advanced conservation efforts for the golden eagle. Information from this project will also inform California’s Desert Renewable...
Learn More
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A photo of a cactus against the landscape of the Mojave Desert

Henderson Field Station

The Henderson Field Station supports research scientists leading projects in desert ecosystem restoration, genetics of iconic trees of the Mojave Desert, predator-prey studies on protected lands, and more. Select the next tab for a comprehensive summary of studies at this site.
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Henderson Field Station

The Henderson Field Station supports research scientists leading projects in desert ecosystem restoration, genetics of iconic trees of the Mojave Desert, predator-prey studies on protected lands, and more. Select the next tab for a comprehensive summary of studies at this site.
Learn More

Golden Eagle Food Habits in the Mojave Desert: Regional information for a changing landscape.

Expansion of renewable energy development is rapidly transforming the Mojave Desert landscape and has the potential to impact Golden Eagles through loss of foraging habitat and reduced prey base. Regional information on Golden Eagle food habits is limited and little is known of how dietary variability influences eagle productivity. We examined diet using motion activated trail cameras and collecti
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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Variable Terrestrial GPS Telemetry Detection Rates: Parts 1 - 7Data

These data were used to explore environmental effects on fix success rates (FSR) across a wide range of environmental conditions, desert to alpine biomes, and cover the full range of potential data loss (0-100% FSR) for global positioning system (GPS) bias correction of terrestrial GPS-derived, large mammal habitat use. Also, these data were subsequently used to evaluate patterns in missing data t
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Southwest Biological Science Center
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Linking Behavioral States to Landscape Features for Improved Conservation Management

Behavioral Change Point Analysis (BCPA) is a tool that analyzes changes in species’ movement and behavior.

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Research Spotlight: Fear of Predation May Prevent Mule Deer from Taking Advantage of Forage Resources in Mojave Sky-Islands

A recent publication from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center reports findings from a study of mule deer and cougars in the Mojave Desert. The...

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